The Licensing Sub-Committee of Kensington and Chelsea Council met on Thursday 25 September 2025 to consider an application to vary the premises licence for the Stumble Inn, 1 Russell Gardens, W14 8EZ. The committee granted the application to add off-sales, with specific conditions regarding the sale and consumption of alcohol, and also approved a variation to condition 15 of the licence.

Variation of Premises Licence for Stumble Inn

The primary focus of the meeting was an application by MSA (UK) Limited to vary the premises licence for the Stumble Inn. The application sought to introduce the sale of alcohol for consumption off the premises between 9am and midnight, and to amend Condition 15 of the existing licence. The premises is currently licensed for on-sales of alcohol and late-night refreshments.

The application received one objection from Matt McElroy of the Council's Noise and Nuisance Team, on the grounds of the prevention of public nuisance. Mr McElroy's initial concerns related to noise disturbance from patrons outside the premises. Following further complaints about customers drinking outside, he requested an additional condition to restrict off-sales to sealed containers or for patrons seated in a designated area.

A key point of discussion revolved around the definition of the premises for the purpose of alcohol consumption, particularly concerning a small external area. The applicant's representatives argued that this area, which forms part of their lease and is registered with the Land Registry, is part of the premises and can be used for alcohol consumption. The Noise and Nuisance Team maintained that for licensing purposes, only areas identified on the premises licence plan are permitted for on-sales.

After considerable discussion, an agreement was reached on several conditions. The committee agreed to allow off-sales, with the restriction that alcohol would only be sold for consumption by customers seated in external seating areas identified on an approved plan, or in sealed containers for takeaway. The sale of alcohol for off-consumption was also agreed to cease no later than 10pm.

Condition 15 of the licence was amended from Signage shall be prominently displayed advising customers that drinks or glass containers are not permitted outside the premises building to Signage shall be prominently displayed advising customers that drinks in open glass containers are not permitted outside the premises building. This change was accepted to facilitate the off-sales provision, allowing sealed glass containers to be sold for takeaway.

Environmental Health's proposed conditions were also discussed and largely agreed upon. Condition 28 was agreed, and Condition 29, which stipulated the removal of tables and chairs by 10pm, was accepted. Condition 30, concerning the sale of alcohol for off-premises consumption, was refined to specify that it would be restricted to customers seated in external seating areas identified on the approved plan, or for sealed containers to be taken away. Condition 31, relating to smokers in the external area, was amended to allow for six smokers in the designated external area, with a discussion about managing smokers on the public highway. It was agreed that staff would use reasonable measures to persuade customers on the public highway to move into the external area or re-enter the premises, and that this would be detailed in the Dispersal and External Management Plan.

The committee also discussed the New Year's Eve timing, with the applicant agreeing to a non-standard timing of 2am for off-sales, rather than the proposed 2am for both on and off-sales.

The committee confirmed that they had read all submitted papers and heard from all parties. The decision was to be made in private and communicated to the parties within five working days, with a full decision to follow.